Removable cellular sponge mop head assembly



July 12, 1966 J. w. CLAUSE 3,259,933

REMOVABLE CELLULAR SPONGE MOP HEAD ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 2, 1964 INYEN'TOR. JOHN W. CLAUSE BY 041%,... MA,

ATTYS.

United States Patent 3,259,933 REMOVABLE CELLULAR SPONGE MOP HEAD ASSEMBLY John W. Clause, Ravenna, Ohio, assignoi: to W. J. Buscoe Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 415,412 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-244) The present invention relates to replaceable mop heads, and particularly to an improved cellular mop head assembly for attachment to a mop end plate for operative use of the mop head.

Heretofore there has been a wide acceptance of a variety of styles of mops for cleaning, waxing, polishing and/or scrubbing floors, and many of these mops have used substantially rectangular, cellular or porous cellulose sponge mop heads thereon. These sponges wear out in use and require replacement at irregular intervals. The sponge mop heads usually have special metal backing plates that are bolted to the end plates on the mops, or the sponge mop heads are otherwise secured to the end plates by special means for operative cooperation therebetween.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved mop head of the type described, and to provide a new mop head assembly characterized by the provision of a resilient plastic layer usually formed as a unit with a premade sponge mop head, which plastlc layer has unitary attaching or securing means provided thereon and extending therefrom and engageable by bayonet lock action with a positioning plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved sponge type of a mop head which is of improved characteristics, but is of low cost, and which can be attached to mop heads quickly and conveniently, and be detached therefrom when desired, the engagement and disengagement of the sponge mop head being facilitated by wetting it with water.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide unitary resilient plastic layer means formed in contact with a cellular sponge, or otherwise suitably attached thereto, and where the resilient plastic layer has one, or more, locking protuberances extending from portions of the plastic layer, which locking protuberances are adapted to be inserted through locking recesses provided in a mop plate to engage the mop head with the mop plate between a portion of the resilient plastic layer and a base portion of the locking protuberance. 7

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved mop head that includes a resilient backing layer and where the mop head will usually be wetted with water to soften the cellular sponge component thereof for assembly to a mop head plate; to provide a resilient backing layer having localized reenforced areas therein for a mop head; to provide interengaging protuberance and receptacle means on a mop plate and a mop head for releasable locking engagement therebetween; and to provide a new molded product comprising a cellulose sponge member having a plastic backing layer thereon with special plastic locking means formed as a unit therewith.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.

Attention now is particularly directed to the accon1- 'panying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of a mop head embodying the principles of the invention shown operatively attached to a mop handle;

FIG. 2 is a top plan of the mop head assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation of the mop head assembly of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan of the mop head plate of FIG. 1;

Patented July 12, 1966 FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section, enlarged, of the engagement between the center locking protuberance on the mop head and the mop end plate; and

FIG. '6 is a bottom plan, partially broken away, of a modified mop head plate of the invention.

When referring to corresponding members shown in the drawings and referred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used to facilitate comparison therebetween.

Generally speaking, the present invention, as one embodiment thereof, relates to a mop head assembly or the like adapted for use with a mop having a handle and an end plate secured to the end of the handle, which end plate has at least a pair of key-shaped slotted apertures therein, the mop head comprising a cellular sponge of about the same size as the end plate, and a resilient plastic backing layer or means on one surface of the sponge and intimately bonded thereto, which backing layer has a pair of securing protuberances extending therefrom for engaging the apertures provided in the end plate so as to attach the mop head thereto by relative movement of the protuberances and plate by being inserted in one portion of each of the apertures and being slid into locked engagement therewith.

Attention now is particularly directed to the details of the accompanying drawings, and a conventional mop handle 1 is shown that has an end plate 2 attached to the mop handle, as by being formed as a part of or by being suitably attached, as by welding, to a tubular socket 3 that engages the mop handle 1. Or the end plate 2 may be attached to a plate on the socket. As is conventional in many mops made commercially today, some type of a wringer or squeeze plate 4, having a handle 5 thereon, is shown pivotally attached to one margin or portion of the end plate 2, as by a hinge means 6.

It is an important feature of the present invention that a .mop head assembly, indicated as a whole by the numeral 7, is provided to be attached removably to the end plate 2 to complete the mop. This mop head assembly 7 includes any suitable type of a sponge, or cellular sponge member or body 8, which sponge 8 usually is made from a cellular cellulose material and which is made by any conventional or known methods and usually has open, or interconnecting cells formed therein. At least one working surface 9 of this sponge 8 is substantially fiat but naturally due to the irregularity of the open cells formed in and provided by the sponge 8, a somewhat irregular surface is provided even on the surface or face 9. It will be understood that the sponge 8 is of generally rectangular form and that this sponge may be of any desired size, shape or proportions.

One of the features of the invention is that a resilient, molded, plastic backing means or layer 10 is provided on a flat back or top surface of the sponge 8 and is intimately bonded thereto. Preferably this backing layer '10 is formed from a liquid plastic material that is solidified in contact with the adjacent surface of the sponge 8. In some instances, it may be suitable to cement the sponge 8 to the backing layer 10 by conventional adhesive means.

It is a feature of the invention that the mop head assembly 7 of the invention is adapted to be attached to the metal end plate 2 by one or more bayonet lock type of inter-engaging connection means "formed on the backing plate and the resilient or flexible backing means or layer 10 of the sponge 8. Thus, in the particular embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the end plate is provided with a center opening 11 that has two opposed longitudinally extending slots 12 and 13 formed therein and connecting thereto. Also, the end plate has a plurality of key-hole shaped slots 14 provided therein with a pair of of such slots 14 being shown adjacent each end of the end plate. These slots 14 have enlarged sections or portions 14a at the axially inner ends of each of the slots and with reduced diameter neck portions 14b formed in the end plate connecting to the enlarged openings 14a and extending to reducedenlarged diameter portions 140 formed in each one of the slots 14. In order to engage the sponge mop head assembly 7 with the end plate 2, the backing layer or means 10 is provided with a plurality of unitary attaching means, or locking protuberances formed thereon. Thus, in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is shown that a'center protuberance is provided on the backing layer 10 and this locking protuberance has a pair of opposed locking lugs16 and 17 "formed thereon and extending in a direction transversely to the longitudinal axis of the mop head assembly 7. Such lugs 16 and 17, as indicated in FIG. 3, are offset a short distance from the remainder of the backing layer 10 and are smaller than the slots 12 and 13. The lugs 16 and 17 snugly attach the sponge mop head to the end plate.

As a further feature of the invention, the mop head assembly 7 also has a plurality of locking protuberances 18, 19, 20 and 21 formed adjacent the corners of the backing layer 16. Each of these locking lugs or protuberances 18 through 21 has a reduced diameter section 22 formed thereon adjacent the normal flat surface of the backing layer 10 and with enlarged bases being formed on the locking beads by these reduced diameter sections 22 which space the enlarged bases from the adjacent portion of the backing layer 10 by a distance usually substantially equal to the thickness of the plate 2. The locking means are formed as a molded unit with the backing means 10. Thus, the center locking protuberance 15 on the mop head can be so positioned that the locking lugs 16 and 17 thereon can be inserted through the slots 12 and 13 in the center opening 11 of the end plate and then the entire mop head assembly can be rotated through approximately 90 for final positioning and engagement with the end plate. Preferably before this engagement of the mop head assembly and the end plate, the cellular sponge 8 will be thoroughly wetted with water and this facilitates bending the mop head assembly and particularly the sponge inwardly upon itself so as to expose the locking protuberance 15 and the lugs 16 and 17 for con.- venient engagement with the center opening 11 and associated slots. The lugs 16 and 17 reenforce the mop head assembly in its connection to the end plate 2.

After the mop head assembly 7 has been brought into initial engagement with the end plate and is in superimposed position thereon, then the ends of the mop head assembly can be individually grasped by a person and be forced slightly axially inwardly with relation to the end plate so that the pair of locking protuberances at each end of the mop assembly can be brought into engagement with the key-hole shaped slots 14 at each end of the plate. Specifically, the protuberances first would be inserted through the enlarged slot portions 14a or else be forced or pulled therethrough, after which each end of the mop head assembly then could be individually forced to slide lognitudinally a short distance whereby the reduced diameter sections 22 of the locking protuberances would be slid through the reduced diameter sections 14b of the slots and engage the slightly enlarged ends 140 of the locking recesses. Such end of the mop head assembly can be individually engaged with the mop, if desired. In all events, a sturdy operative engagement is obtained between the locking protuberances on the backing layer 10 and the end plate. In this embodiment of the invention, five actual locked engagement connections are provided between the mop head assembly and the backing plate, but in some instances, a smaller number of locking engagements can be provided. For example, only the locking protuberances 18 through 21 might be provided on the mop head assembly for good operative engagement between the mop head end plate and the mop head assembly. Or, in another instance, it might be desirable to just provide the center locking protuberance 15 on the mop protuberance is desired on the sponges, then some adja head assembly and then, for example, one locking pro- I tuberance could be provided adjacent each end of the mop head assembly whereby three axially spaced locking A modified end plate 2a is shown in FIG. 5, and in this instance, a center opening 11a is provided that has a pair of slots 12a and 13a extending therefrom. Also, a modified type of key-hole shaped locking aperture is provided adjacent each end of the end plate 2a. In this instance, end locking apertures 30 and 31 are provided with each of these apertures having an enlarged section offset from the center line of the end plate in an opposite direction from the other whereby means are provided for locking movement of the mop head assembly in relation to the end plate by relative arcuate movement there.- between. tuberances, corresponding in position to the apertures 30 and 31, on the mop head backing means with the aper tures 30 and 31 to provide for locked engagement of the mop head assembly with this particular backing plate.

assembly and end plate into alignment and to obtain firm locked engagement therebetween, the end portion of such locking movement by the mop head assembly could also be .used to bring the otherlocking protuberances on the mop head assembly into engagement with the end plate for operative engagement therewith.

In view of the foregoing, it is believed that a novel and improved mop head assembly has been provided by the present invention, Obviously, any desired sections or portions of the backing layer 10 can be thickened or 1'ein forced, if desired, and it may be that only localized portions of the sponge 8 will have the backing layer or means afiixed thereto. Thus, in all events, wherever a locking cent area of the sponge must have a backing layer or section bonded thereto whereby a sturdy operative engagement'is provided between the locking protuberance. and

the associated sponge of the mop head.

The apparatus of the invention provides an improved type of a sponge mop head assembly that can be easily engaged with a mop end plate, and can be readily disengaged therefrom. Usually it is necessary and desirable to wet the sponge 8 thoroughly with water because in many instances, these sponges are made from material that is relatively firm or stiff when dry. It will be realized that any suitable plastic material can be used in making the plastic backing layer 10 and that, for example, a plastisol of polyvinyl chloride of known composition can be used in making the assembly of the invention. Such resin or plastisol can be .poured into a mold to fill the cavity or cavities thereof to a desired level and then the sponge, 8,

harm conventional cellular sponge materials. By having And the end locking means This will engage a pair of end locking proan intimate contact between the liquid resin material from which the backing layer is made and one face or surface of the sponge 8, the liquid material penetrates into the irregular surface of the sponge a short distance and, when solidified, remains in intimate, tight bonded engagement therewith. The plastic backing layer 10 is usually formed to such a thickness and is of such a strength that the sponge body 8 will itself tear before the joint or bonding means formed between the backing layer and the sponge itself is disrupted.

The plastic forming the protuberances is sufficiently soft and flexible that it can be pulled from any mold cavity without tearing the protuberances and with the protuberances readily being movable into the locked or engaged portions of the locking slots in the end plate.

Usually the exposed surface of the backing layer is substantially complementary to, or at least has sections therein that are complementary to the surface of the end plate with which it is to be used, but the backing layer 10 may be substantially flat and still be engaged readily for use with an end plate has a recessed center area.

The sponges 8 are in many instances made from a cellulose material, and naturally a plastic which is resilient when set is used in the practice of the invention.

Any number of protuberances, as desired, can be provided on the backing layer. It excess protuberances are provided, the superfluous protuberances can be cut off readily.

The mop head of the invention provides effective means for attachment to a mop, and a secure engagement of the resilient backing layer to the sponge is provided by the invention. The backing layer will flex and can conform to the contour of the positioning plate. An improved unit with attaching means forming a part thereof is provided so that the objects of the invention have been achieved.

While several complete embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modification of these particular embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mop head assembly or the like for use with a mop having a handle and an end plate having a center aperture with a slot extending therefrom longitudinally of such end plate, and a pair of end apertures therein at longitudinally spaced and balanced portions thereof secured to said handle, said mop head comprising an open cell sponge of substantially the same size as said end plate, and

a resilient molded plastic backing layer on one surface of said sponge and intimately bonded thereto,

said backing layer having a securing protuberance extending therefrom adjacent each end thereof for extending through said end apertures and engaging said end plate to attach said mop head thereto, said backing layer also having a center locking protuberance with at least one lug thereon to engage said center aperture by relative insertion and arcuate movement therebetween to position said lug to extend transversely of said end plate.

2. A mop head assembly or the like for use with a mop having a handle and an end plate having a center aperture with slots extending therefrom in opposite directions and a pair of key-hole shaped axially directed end apertures therein at longitudinally spaced and balanced portions thereof secured to said handle said mop head comprising an open cell sponge of substantially the same size as said end plate, and

a resilient plastic backing means on one surface of said sponge and intimately bonded thereto, said backing means having a securing protuberance extending therefrom adjacent each end of said sponge for extending through said end apertures and engaging said end plate to attach said mop head thereto by relative axial movement therebetween, said backing means also having a center locking protuberance thereon with lugs extending in opposite directions therefrom to engage said center aperture by relative insertion and arcuate movement therebetween to position said lugs out of register with said slots in said end plate. 3. A mop head assembly or the like for use with a mop having a handle and an end plate having a center locking aperture therein which has at least one locking slot formed connecting to such center aperture, and which end plate also has a pair of key-hole shaped end apertures provided therein at longitudinally spaced and balanced portions thereof, which end plate is securedto the mop handle, said mop head comprising a sponge of substantially the same size as said end plate, and a resilient molded plastic backing means on one surface of the sponge and intimately bonded thereto,

said backing means having a center securing protuberance extending therefrom for extending through said center locking aperture and having a locking lug formed thereon for threaded engagement with said center aperture slot for being turned into engagement with said end plate by relative arcuate movement between said sponge and said backing plate,

said backing layer also having a pair of securing protuberances extending therefrom for engagement with said end apertures in said end plate, said end protuberances on said backing means being engageable with said end apertures by relative arcuate movement therebetween whereby the end protuberances can be threaded through the end apertures and be slid into engagement with the reduced diameter locking sections thereof, which mop head is engageable with the end plate by being wetted with water and then being manually engaged between the center locking aperture of the end plate and said center protuberance and thereafter with the end locking protuberances being movable into locked engagement with said end apertures in said end plate.

References ited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 993,617 7 5/1911 Pokorney 15--l76 2,678,458 5/1954 Vosbikian et a1 15-116.1 2,747,343 5/ 1956 Gellert l5244 X 2,877,478 3/1959 Kohlwey et al 15-119.1 2,880,443 4/1959 LeFebvre 15-244 3,137,885 6/1964 Hulsh 15-608 X 3,147,502 8/1964 Richards 15-1191 X FOREIGN PATENTS 149,807 8/ 1920 Great Britain. 371,069 5/1939 Italy.

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MOP HEAD ASSEMBLY OR THE LIKE FOR USE WITH A MOP HAVING A HANDLE AND AN END PLATE HAVING A CENTER APERTURE WITH A SLOT EXTENDING THEREFROM LONGITUDINALLY OF SUCH END PLATE, AND A PAIR OF END APERTURES THEREIN AT LONGITUDINALLY SPACED AND BALANCED PORTIONS THEREOF SECURED TO SAID HANDLE, SAID MOP HEAD COMPRISING AN OPEN CELL SPONGE OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME SIZE AS SAID END PLATE, AND A RESILIENT MOLDED PLASTIC BACKING LAYER ON ONE SURFACE OF SAID SPONGE AND INTIMATELY BONDED THERETO, SAID BACKING LAYER HAVING A SECURING PROTUBERANCE EXTENDING THEREFROM ADJACENT EACH END THEREOF FOR EXTENDING THROUGH SAID END APERTURES AND ENGAGING SAID END PLATE TO ATTACH SAID MOP HEAD THERETO, SAID BACKING LAYER ALSO HAVING A CENTER LOCKING PROTUBERANCE WITH AT LEAST ONE LUG THEREON TO ENGAGE SAID CENTER APERTURE BY RELATIVE INSERTION AND ARCUATE MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN TO POSITION SAID LUG TO EXTEND TRANSVERSELY OF SAID END PLATE. 